Planet Coaster 2 Review – A Thrilling Sequel with Room for Improvement

Gameplay: Creative Freedom with Some Hiccups

At its core, Planet Coaster 2 remains a dreamland for budding theme park designers. You’re still free to craft wild coaster layouts, sprawling path networks, and awe-inspiring park themes, from Viking realms to lush tropical paradises. The biggest addition this time around is the ability to build water attractions, including pools, slides, and flumes – a feature fans have wanted since the first game. Watching virtual park-goers zip down slides and splash into pools adds a delightful new layer, perfect for creating those water-themed resorts​.

However, with this creative freedom comes a steeper learning curve. The new building tools offer more flexibility than before, particularly when designing paths or placing items, but they’re not the most intuitive. On PC, the interface can feel cluttered, as sub-menus and tabs often complicate rather than simplify the process. While controller support was a key design choice for this cross-platform release, PC players, especially veterans, may find the UI to be a hindrance at times​.

Water Attractions: A Splashing Success

One of the standout features in Planet Coaster 2 is the introduction of water-based attractions. Pools, flumes, and water slides aren’t just fun to build – they’re also fun to watch as guests interact with them in new ways. These water features bring a lively energy to your parks and provide a fresh canvas for creativity, allowing you to create standalone water parks or mix them into traditional amusement parks. The flumes and slides are compact and straightforward to design, making them easier than the sometimes intricate coaster-building process. However, be prepared to manage new aspects like water pumps, lifeguards, and changing rooms to keep everything running smoothly​.

Building and Pathing: Powerful but Picky

Frontier has upgraded the path-building system to allow smoother and more realistic path elevations, which lets you craft scenic walkways over hills and valleys. Unfortunately, the system is finicky, often requiring trial and error to get paths and rides to align properly. For those familiar with Planet Coaster, this new flexibility is a welcome change, but the inconsistency can be frustrating when pieces don’t snap or join as expected. The option to revert to the “classic” tool helps, though it doesn’t fully alleviate the fiddliness​.

A major improvement comes in the form of track smoothing and customisable coaster cars, which allow you to attach scenic decorations directly to trains and ride vehicles. Whether you’re adding torches to a Viking boat ride or flowers to a jungle-themed coaster, this level of customisation is a treat for players who enjoy the finer details.

Management and Simulation: Accessible but Limited

One of the criticisms of the original Planet Coaster was its relatively light management requirements, and Planet Coaster 2 doesn’t radically change this aspect. While the game introduces power and water supply systems, they’re minimal in their impact and mostly limited to Sandbox and Career modes. Power grids and maintenance requirements add some realism but won’t keep you scrambling to balance the books. Guest management is similarly simplified – if there’s too much litter, add a few bins and janitors; if ride maintenance is an issue, hire additional mechanics​.

Career Mode shines, however, as it introduces specific challenges and storylines that require players to think creatively. For example, one scenario has you build a park atop two separate cliffs, adding a strategic twist when designing rides across the divide. These set challenges feel like a cross between tutorial and gameplay, gradually introducing new mechanics and ideas without overwhelming you with micro-management​.

Visuals and Performance: A Feast for the Eyes (and GPU)

Planet Coaster 2 capitalises on today’s graphics capabilities, delivering an upgraded visual experience that brings your parks to life in impressive detail. The water effects, in particular, stand out, with realistic reflections and animations that add to the immersion. On high settings, parks look vibrant and bustling, though some players have reported occasional performance drops in larger parks, especially on consoles. Nevertheless, Frontier has clearly invested in making Planet Coaster 2 as visually engaging as possible, with colourful themes, weather effects, and dynamic lighting enhancing the atmosphere​.

The Verdict

Planet Coaster 2 is a worthy sequel that builds on the strengths of the original while introducing new features, such as water rides and enhanced path-building tools. It’s perfect for fans who crave creative freedom and visual customisation, and the campaign mode offers structured challenges that keep things interesting. However, the user interface on PC can feel cumbersome, and the management simulation remains relatively light for those seeking a hardcore tycoon experience.

Ultimately, Planet Coaster 2 is an exciting and beautiful evolution of the series, ideal for fans who enjoy sandbox creativity and have patience for occasional fiddliness. Whether you’re in it for the coasters, the water rides, or the sheer thrill of creating an immersive theme park, there’s plenty to keep you entertained – just be ready for a few design frustrations along the way.

Game Glitch Score: 8/10

For:

• Fantastic water attractions and visual upgrades

• Flexible, customisable building options

• Creative campaign scenarios with varied challenges

• Smooth track and pathing improvements

Against:

• Cumbersome PC interface and building menus

• Light management requirements may disappoint hardcore sim fans

• Occasional performance issues in larger parks

Planet Coaster 2 is a delightful and engaging follow-up, delivering the tools to create your dream park while leaving room for improvements in management and interface. For players who love design and detail, it’s a thrilling ride from start to finish.